Rotas, meetings, budgets, putting out chairs, arranging building work, catering, risk assessments…the list goes on. In any administrative role, in the church or any other workplace, the endless task list can become our main focus; it’s our job, it’s what we do.

Being focused in our work is a great asset which I am sure is greatly appreciated by colleagues, employers or those we are serving. But as human beings we can easily disconnect what we are taught from scripture on a Sunday morning with the practical everyday tasks we face within our job or role as an administrator. We can shelve the gospel and see our work as an entirely separate entity. It is a struggle for many people in a variety of jobs to remember why we do what we do and not just get on with the tasks in hand. But the why is so very important. The why gives us purpose, it connects us and affects us in our work and in who we are.

This blog may be helpful to anyone in any job but primarily I am writing from my experiences as a church administrator and my desire is to help others who serve local churches within administrative roles. I know the struggle all too well to keep the gospel central in what we do. When I am driven by checking things off my task list, the impact of forgetting the bigger picture is evident in my work. It is all too easy to lose sight of the purpose of our role and how it links to the gospel. I understand what it’s like to get preoccupied with methods and disheartened, discouraged, frustrated, and exhausted. Sometimes it can be a lonely role as members of the church avoid us at all costs for fear of getting roped into something. At other times, it can be a thankless task as members hound us because we are ‘the source of all knowledge’ or the one who is ‘available at all times.’ Some might find church administration boring or pointless or not understand what goes on behind the scenes. But for others, this is an area of gifting or a way we can serve. Even so, it is not without its challenges! Therefore, in all things we do we need to hold fast to Scripture and to remind ourselves why we do what we do. We should strive to remember that we live for the audience of One. We are here to serve the beloved bride of Christ, his Church, for whom he died. This blog is aiming to look further into why we do what we do, what motivates us and who it is that we really serve.

Church administration is not primarily about management or organisation or having the best methods, although those things are really important. It is first and foremost a theological endeavour. It is of paramount importance that the gospel and God’s Word are embedded in everything we do. In times of joy and strength, and in times of frustration and weakness, in order to faithfully serve his Church we must strive to keep the gospel at the forefront of our minds. Let us pray for God’s ongoing grace to connect our role to the gospel as we continue to serve.